Today at North is one of the more positive days. It’s Multicultural Day, where we have an assembly of many kids in many clubs doing many dances, among other things. There’s Vietnamese, Japanese, HCC (the H for Hispanic), IPS (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), YBE (young, Black, educated), Korean, Dance Team, Native American, Filipino, Polynesian Club–you get the picture. White students complain for about two seconds every year about not being represented, but anyone can join any club so it’s a pretty weak argument.
It’s pretty much the same throughout the years with the players being the difference. Hat dances, waltzes in between banging sticks, kids breaking wood, hula, Tahitian, the Haka. Probably 300 to 400 of our kids are out there on the gym floor, with many students performing in multiple numbers. There’s enthusiasm, apathy, some kids have practiced while others have not–but, whether some like it or not, it’s a staple of our school.
The assembly is done twice, as a first and second assembly. The first one ran a little long so the second one started a little late. The second one ran a little long, too, but the difference was apparent. When a first assembly runs long, it’s no big deal because kids are late for 4th period. When a second assembly runs long, that’s cutting into lunch. So, after the second assembly went a little over, while students were still performing on a stage and the floor, almost the entire student population just got up and left. A band was playing, kids were singing, and everyone just left because we only have 30 minutes for lunch.
I don’t know if anyone tried to stop them, but when a herd of hungry students is coming your way, it’s probably not a good idea to send them back to the bleacher seats. I certainly didn’t stop them, but at least I stayed until the end.
And, I still managed to finish my lunch.